Bumper



Feb. 18, 1936.

B. F. FoRTlER Er AL 2,030,978

BUMPER Filed Deo. 4, 1951 5 sheets-sheet 1 v.Irs/u .B4/RON F. FORTIEFREDRICK A.MILLER, 1

Feb. 18, 1936.v B. F. FORTIER Er AL 2,030,978

BUMPER Filed Dec. 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .BYRON F. FoRTlER.

@l FREvR1cKA.M/LLER,

Feb. 18, 1936. B. F. FORTIER Er Al. y'2,030,978

Filed Dec. 4, 19,31 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Junge/nm BYRON F. FORTIER.. vFREDR/CK A. MILLER,

Feb. 18 1936. B. F. FORTIER ET AL 2,030,978

BUMPER Filed Dec. 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet '4 I Jwu .BYRON F. FORTIER,

FREDRIcK A. MILLER,

Feb. 18,1936. B` F FORTlER Er AL 2,030,978

BUMPER Filed Dec. 4, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheetl 5 Irl G. '79

i i I l 4 I JWM BYRON FFORTIER. .BY FREDRCKA.MLLER| Patented Feb. 18,1936 BUMPER Y Byron F. Fortier andFredrick A. Miller, Springiield, Ohio,assignors to Louis R. Hildreth, Co-

lumbus, Ohio Application December l1, 1931, serial No. 579,082 1cclaims. (ci. 29e-55)' This invention relates to improvements in bumpers,and has for its object to provide a bumper in which there are a frontbar and a back bar connected to each other by interlocking engagementwithout the necessity of welding or bolting.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a bumper composed of aspring steel front bar and a rear bar in interlocking engagement witheach other at their ends, and having their parts so united that thisunion tends to hold the interlocking parts together.

It is also an object of this invention to provide, in connection with abumper, a front bumper bar having rolled ends with slots therein, and aback bumper bar with hooked ends to engage in the slots in the rolledends of the front bar. Means may also be provided for holding the hookedends of the back bar in the rolled ends of the front bar, such as plugsand ornamental caps.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a bumper having asupporting bar with offset ends to which the bumpers are attached byhaving slots therein to receive the oiiset ends of the supporting bar. Y

It is also an object oi this invention to provide a iront bumper barhaving curved ends, and a back bumper bar with curved ends arranged incontact withthe surface of the iront bar and having its ends bent andinserted through Vthe slots in the front bumper bar.

' These and other advantages will appear from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the drawings.

' Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of one form oi applicants bumper.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the form shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a supporting bar with bumperettes onthe ends thereof.

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the bumpertas shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan view of one end of the bumper as shownin Figure 1, with the end partly in section.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but a rear elevation thereof.

Figure 'I is a View similar to Figure 5 but with a plug inserted in therolled end. Y

i Figure 8 is a viewsimilar to Figure 6 but with the plug inserted intheA rolled end.

, Figure 9 is a toprplan view of one end of a bumper according to amodified form, in which the end of the front bar is partly in section.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the end of the bumper as shown inFigure 9.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form of bumper, inwhich the back bar is bent to form a hook. 5

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the bumper as shown in Figure 11.

Figure l13 is a slightly modified form of bumper bar showing in planview one end thereof, with the rolled end partly in section.

Figure 14 is a rear elevation of the form sho in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a View similar to Figure 13 but with the plug located inthe rolled end for holding the back bar in position. 1

Figure 16 is a View similar to Figure 14, with the plug and cap insertedin the rolled end with the cap and rolled end partly in section.

Figure 17 is another form of bumper, in which the iront bar has its endslooped, with the back 2o bar attached to the looped ends by means ofslots and hooks. t

Figure 18 is a rear elevation of the form of bumper shown in Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a view showing the lug for holding 25 the hook on the endof the back bar in engagement with the slot in the rolled end of theiront bar, together with the caps .that t in each end of the rolled endof the front bar. This View also shows one end of the front bar havingthe 30 rolled end and the slot therein.

' According to the form shown in Figure 1, the bumper is composed of twobars, a front bar I having each end rolled, as indicated by the numeral2, with a'slot 3 therein. The ends of this 35 bar are slightly curvedand are connected by means of a back bar 4, which has on each end avhook 1. The middle part ofthe back bar is bent toward the front bar,and is attached thereto by means of a bolt 5, which passes through bothbars 40 and serves to hold an ornamentalI plate 6 in the central part ofthe front bar.

- As shown in Figure 2, the bars contact with each other at their endsand at their centers so there is,

at each end of the bumper, a spring loop. 45 The hooked ends of thebumper bar t in the slots3 of the rolled ends of the front bar, and havetheir immediate ends of the hooked parts bent or curved, as indicated bythe numeral 8, to correspond to the internal curvature of the rolled 50ends.

As shown in Figure 2, when these hooks are placed within the slots thecurved ends of the hook members closely engage the rolled ends of thefront bar. In order tohold these parts assem- 55 bled, as shown in thisgure, a plug may be inserted within the rolled end and the curved part 8of the back bar. By this means the bars are held together and cannot bedisconnected.

In Figures 3 and 4 bumperettes are shown and the bar for supportingthese bumperettes on some part of the frame of an automobile. Thesupporting bar is indicated by the numeral 9, which serves as a bar thatextends crosswise the rear of the car and is attached to some part ofthe frame I0 by means of bolts II which pass through holes thesupporting bar, and also holes in brackets I2. Each end oi thesupporting bar has an oiset part I3 for supporting one end of abumperette I4. This end of the bumperette is bent -tojorrn-a looped endI5, in which there is a slot I6 for receiving the offset I3 of thesupporting bar.

The other ends of the bumperettes are supported by the brackets I2 bymeans of bolts I1 which pass through the ends of the brackets, the endsof the bumperettes'and serve t0 fasten these two together, together withan ornamental plate I8. The ornamental plate may yserve as the head ofthe bolt, or the bolt may be otherwise attached to the ornamental plate.

As shown in Figure `3, each end of the supporting bar is curved upwardlyadjacent its ends, with the end extending in a line substantiallyparallel with the body of the supporting bar. The brackets I2 also curveupwardlyfrom the bolt l I 4so that the free ends ofthe supporting bar 9and the en ds of the brackets remote from the bolts II are substantiallyin a straight line near the upper edge of the body of the supportingbar. By this means 1 the bumperettes are given an additional resiliencythat is, a resiliency independent of the natural resiliency of the barandthebrackets. The upward.- ly extending parts of the brackets I2 andthe ends of the bar 9 are indicated by the numeral I 9.

In Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 enlarged end views of the bumper are shown-Fieure 5 Shows the riature of the connection between the ends of Ythetwo bars. In Figure 'l there is shown inserted in the rolled end of theiront, Vbar and the curved hooked end of the back bar a plug 20 ltorYpre- `venting the back bar from being disconnected from the front bar.This plug is substantially as long as the width of the back bar, therebyleaving a considerable space at each end of the rolled end forsupporting an ornamental cap A1?!- cap has a head and a cylindricalbarrel part that is resilient and fits closely within .the ends of theVrolled part so it may be slipped onto or Vretrieved from the rolledends, but with, .suftieientiriction to hold it in place under ordinaryconditions. These caps valso serve to hold the plug in place. The plugand caps `for each end of theplug are .Shown in Figure 19.

In Figures 9 to 12 a slightly modified ,form of bumper is shown. In thisform the front bumper is indicated by the numeral 22, and has curvedends, each end having a slot 2,3 therein, The back bar is indicated bythe numeral 24 and has its ends bent toward the front bar and bent so asto engage the front bar along a part of the surface thereof as indicatedby the numeral 25. The ends of the back bar are oiset, as indicated bythe numeral 26, and project through the slots in the ends of the frontbar and engage the front surfaces o f the curved ends of the front'bar,ask shown in Figure 9.

In Figures 11 and 12 a bumper similar to that shown in Figures 9 and 10is shown, Instead of the back bar having offset ends the ends in thisform are bent to form hooks 26', that double back and engage oppositesides of the bumper bar adjacent the end slots. In allI other respectsthese two bars are similar.

In Figures 13 to 16 a form of bumper very similar to that shown inFigures l and 2 is shown. In this form the front bar is indicated by thenumeral 21, and has on each end a rolled part 28. The back bar isindicated by the numeral 30, and has on each end a hook 3| whichprojects into a slot 29 in the rolled ends of the front bar. The hookmember 3l does not have any curved part, such as shown in Figures 5 and7, the end being straight.

In the rolled ends are placed plugs 32, which are round for abouttwo-thirds of their perimeter, Vwiththe other part of the perimeterforming a ilat surface to engage the flat end of the back bar, as shownin Figure l5. 'Ihe length of this plug is `substantially equal to theWidth of the back bar so that considerable space is left between theends of the plug and the sides of the front bar, which ism-uch Widerthan the back bar in all instances. rIhis space is filled by means of acap 33, which has .a cylindrical projection ttine into the onen ends ofthe rolled end of the bar. The form of cap is shown in Figures 16 and19.Y The .can is ornamental and adds to the beauty of the end of thebumper. The bars are so interlocled that impact pressure thereon seemsto more firmly interlock them. i

In Figures 17 and 18 a further modification 1s shown, in which the frontbar is indicated bythe numeral 34 and has on each end a loop`35,terminating in free ends extending toward each other. Each free end 36lhas therein a slot 31. The back bar is indicated by the numeral l38,and has a hook 39 on each end, fitting Within the slot 3l and engagingthe bar adjacent the slot.

In all the modified forms `shown the parts are held in engagement witheach other by means of hooks formed integral with one part and engaginga slot in another part, or by oisets on one part engaging slots inanother part.

The separate elements of the bumpers are easily manufactured and whenmanufactured are easily assembled, and when assembled are durable,last.- ingrand easily maintained in operative condition.

It will be understood that we desire to comprehend within our inventionsuch modifications as come within the scope of our claims and ourinvention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what We claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is: Y

1. In a bumper, a front bar having rolled ends and a slot in each rolledend, and aback bar having vits ends bent reversely to `form ahook bentaround one edge of the slotsand curved arcuately at said ends with acurvature conforming to the curvature of the rolled ends. Y

2. In a bumper, a front bar having rolled ends and a slot in each rolledend, a back bar having its ends bent reversely to form a hook bentaround one edge of the slots and curved arcuately at said ends with acurvature conforming to-the curvature of the rolled ends, and means toprevent the back bar becoming disengaged from the front bar.

3. In a bumper, a front bar having rolled ends and a sloi-l in eachrolled end, a back bar having its ends bent reversely to form a hookbent around one edge of the slots and curved toY nt the curvature of therolled ends, and a plug in each rolled end engaging the curved part ofthe back bar ends to prevent the back bar becoming disengaged from thefront bar.

4. In a bumper, a front bar having rolled ends and a slot in each rolledend, and a back bar having each end bent reversely to form a hook bentaround an edge of one of said slots, said hook being curved outwardly toconform to the curvature of the rolled end.

5. In a bumper, a front bar having rolled ends and a slot in each rolledend, a back bar having each end bent reversely to form a hook bentaround an edge of one of said slots, said hook being curved outwardly toconform to the curvature of the rolled end, and a plug in each rolledend engaging the outwardly curved end of the back bar to prevent theback bar becoming detached from the front bar.

6. In a bumper, a bar having each end oiset, a pair of bumper members,each having a slot in one end to receive nthe oiset end of the bar, andmeans to connect the other ends of the bumper members to the bar.

7. In a bumper, a bar having each end oiset, a pair of bumper members,each bumper member having one end bent and slotted to receive the oisetend of the bar, and a bracket between the other end of each bumpermember and the bar.

8. In a bumper, a bar having stop means adjacent each end, a pair ofbumper members each having a slot to receive one end of the bar with thebumper member against the stop means, and bracket connections betweenthe bar and the bumper members.

9. In a bumper, a bar having stop means adjacent each end, a pair ofbumper members, each having at one end a slot to receive one end of thebar with the bumper member against the stop means, and a bracket betweenthe other end of each bumper member and the bar.

10. In a bumper, a front bar having a slot in each end, and a spacedback bar having its ends bent reversely to form hooks bent around anedge of the slots, said ends at points preceding the hooks engaging thesides of the front bar adjacent the slots.

11. In a bumper, a bumper bar having rolled ends with slots therein, asecond bumper bar having each end bent reversely to form a hook ttingclosely around the edge of its corresponding slot, plugs in the rolledends engaging the hooks to prevent detachment, and a cap member in eachend of each rolled end.

12. In a bumper, a bumper bar having each end rolled and a slot therein,a second bar having each end bent reversely to form a hook fittingclosely around the edge of its corresponding slot, a plug in each rolledend engaging the hook therein, a cap at each end of the plug, and meansfor connecting together the central parts of said bars.

13. In a bumper, a bar having a transverse cylinder on each end and alongitudinal slot in each cylinder less in length than the length of thecylinder, .a second bar having hooks on its ends f1tting in said slots,a plug in each cylinder engaging the hook therein, and a cap on each endof each cylinder. each cap consisting of a head and a resilientprojection fitting in the end of the cylinder.

14. In a bumper, a bar having a transverse cylinder on each end and alongitudinal slot in each cylinder less in length than the length of thecylinder, a second bar having its ends bent to form hooks for engagingthe cylinder in the slots, a plug in each cylinder engaging the hooktherein, a cap on each end of each cylinder, and a resilient projectionon the cap tting in the cylinder end.

15. In a bumper, a front bar having looped ends with slots therein, aback bar having its ends projecting through the slots and interlockedwith the looped ends of the front bar, said ends being bent at an angleto the back bar and curved to fit the engaging interior portion of thefront bar loops, a plug in each loop having one part of its surfaceengaging the interior of the iront bar loop opposite the part of theloop engaged by the bent end of the back bar, and another part engagingthe inside of said bent end of the back bar to` prevent the interlockingends of said bars from becoming unlocked under impact.

16. In a bumper, a front bar having looped ends with slots therein, aback bar having its ends projecting through the slots and interlockedwith the looped ends of the front bar, said ends being bent at an angleto the back bar and curved to fit the engaging interior portion of thefront bar loops, a plug in each loop having one part of its surfaceengaging the interior of the front bar loop opposite the part of theloop engaged by the bent end of the back bar, and another part engagingthe inside of said bent end of the back bar to prevent the interlockingends of said bars from becoming unlocked under impact, said plugs beingof lesser diameter than the interior of said front bar loops.

BYRON F. FOR'I'IER.

FREDRICK A. MILLER.

